Fasting

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/Feb/2026]

Next Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which this year starts at the same time as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Muslim year is shorter than ours by about 11 days, so Ramadan comes round earlier each year. During the month of Ramadan Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Going without water must be particularly hard during the long hot summer days and I am thankful for their sakes that Ramadan for the next few years will be in the cooler months when the days are shorter (at least in the northern hemisphere).
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Contributor: Helen Ruffhead
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The Stuff of Dreams

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]

your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2 v28

What images do these words evoke?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Sometimes You Just Feel Low

[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Feb/2026]

Over the past couple of years I had been feeling discouraged from time to time, and wondering how the world and I fitted into God’s will. The world around us was and is changing for the worse and the church seemed powerless to make any difference. I also thought about me and what I had tried to do to serve Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, over the years. Even there I felt that I had done nothing of consequence to bring glory to His Name. That was why I was feeling low.
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Contributor: Michael Goble
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Being Prepared

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
Joshua 2 v1 [ESVUK]

Is it not a little curious that these two men should choose such a place for their overnight stay? Surely, it is not what we would expect from men who were undertaking a mission from God.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Stopping On Purpose

[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 01/Feb/2026]

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat
  – for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127 v2 [NIVUK]

If you are reading this article, then I have probably already started my sabbatical. You may or may not be entirely sure what that means, but understanding the origin of the word sabbatical is a helpful place to start.
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Contributor: Martin Shorey
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More Than Our Daily Bread

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2026]

For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Luke 12 v30 [ESVUK]

Are there situations when we think matters are too small or mundane to pray about? Are we hesitant about bothering God with minor problems such as the regular occurrences of everyday life? Even Jesus advised his disciples against being worried about their daily needs.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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